Post driver and ejector



Patented Oct. i0,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a post driver and ejector, and the tool is particularly effective in the removal of posts from the ground, as well as in the driving of posts into the ground.

It is desired to drive posts into the ground for various purposes, such as, for example, providing fence posts, providing anchors, and for a variety of other purposes. Often the posts are rather tall and it is difficult to drive the posts without working from an elevated position. Further, in the withdrawal of the posts, considerable difficulty is experienced because of the height of the posts.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus which may be effectively employed by an operator standing upon the ground, and

the operation is carried on effectively irrespec-- tive of the height of the post. A further object is to provide a post driving or extracting device, in which a, driving member or hammer may be reciprocated in either direction for the driving of a post or drill into the ground, or for the removal of the post from the ground. Yet another object is to provide apparatus adapted to receive posts of varying lengths and for effectively driving the same into the soil. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a broken side view in elevation of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, an enlarged broken vertical sectional view; and Fig. 3, a transverse sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 3 Of Fig. 2.

In the illustration given, I designates a shank or track member threaded at its top against an anvil II and threaded at its bottom into the lower neck portion of the lower anvil l2. The track member I 0 and each of the anvil members are hollow. In the illustration given, they are cylindrical in shape, but it will be understood that they may be of any cross-sectional shape.

Mounted upon the shank or track is a sleeve member-l3 secured at its upper end by welding or other suitable means to an upper hammer member I4 and secured at its lower end to the hammer member I5.

The lower anvil I2 is provided with a transversely-extending opening l6 adapted to receive a drive pin IT. The track member I0 is also apertured to receive the drive pin II.

The post [8, which is to be driven by the mechanism described, may be of any suitable type or structure. In the illustration given, the post 18 is tubular and is provided at its top with a friction cap [9 and at its bottom with a point 26. Intermediate its length, the post IB may be provided with aligned transverse openings 2| adapted to receive the drive pin I1. I prefer to have the openings in the post l8 and in the track l0 and in the lower anvil l2 slightly inclined downwardly so that the drive pin H will remain freely in position during the raising or lowering of the post.

In the illustration given, the post l3 extends slightly above the anvil I I, and it will be understood that it may extend any desired distance above the anvil, or if the post should be relatively short, the top of the post may be well within the track member 10 when the point of Y the post is started into the ground.

Operation In the operation of the apparatus, a post t8, having one or more openings 2| extending transversely therethrough, is inserted within the track member ID, and the drive pin I1 is inserted through a pair of openings 2| in the post l8, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. The sleeve l3 may then be grasped and raised to drop the hammer l5 against the lower anvil l2. Reciprocation of the sleeve l3 in this manner drives the post downwardly into the ground. After driving the post some distance into the ground, the pin I! may be withdrawn and then inserted through another upper pair of spaced openings 2|, as illustrated in Fig. 2, so that the post may again be driven downwardly without elevating the driving apparatus. It will be understood that any desired number of openings 21 may be formed transversely through the post, and by this means, the post can be driven readily into the ground in successive stages and just as readily withdrawn from the ground.

In the operation for removing the post from the ground, the sleeve i3 is grasped and raised sharply to bring the upper hammer M against the upper anvil ll. Repeated upward strokes of the sleeve thus raise the post to a desired distan-ce. Thereupon, the drive pin I! may be removed and caused to engage aligned openings2l in a lower portion of the post I8, and the upward movement of the post may be thus resumed.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that the operator may at all times stand upon the ground and be in a comfortable and effective position for raising the post out of the ground or for driving it into the ground, the changes in the relative position of the lower anvil and the post being made at spaced intervals by the removal of the pin and the insertion thereof through another series of openings in the post. By having the transverse openings 21 through the post in vertical alignment with each other, it is easy to register the pin F with a second series of openings by merely raising or lowering the lower anvil E2 to the desired position and until the drive pin I T can be pressed into the next series of openings.

It will be understood that various connections for imparting the driving force delivered to the anvils to the post may be employed; If desired, f

the upper anvil H may be closed at'the top so, that the bottom of the anvil strikes the top of the post, and this structure is useful for short posts. I prefer, however, to employ the structure illustrated which permits the use of posts of any length, while at the same time permitting repeated adjustments between the lower"anv'i1 and the post. a

'While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a. specific example in great detail for the purpose of illustrating one embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art"without departing from the spirit of [my invention.

' I claim:'

l. In a post driver and ejector, a hollow track member, a, pair of spaced anvils fixed to the outer surface of. said track member, a sleeve receiving saidtracl; memben'a pairof' hammers carried by said sleeve at, opposite ends thereof, a post extending through. said hollow track member,and cooperating means, on" said track member and post for releasablyanchoring said post 4 to said track member in different relative positions.

2. In a post driver and ejector, a hollow track member adapted to receive throughout its length a post which is to be driven into the earth, a pair of spaced anvils fixed to the outer surface of said track member, a sleeve receiving said track member, a pair of hammers carried by said sleeve at opposite ends thereof, and means carried by said track member and engagealble with said post for releasaby anchoring'said post to said track member at selected relative positions between saidrpost and track member whereby ,said postmay be driven into the earth while fixed horizontal position relative to the earth.

gageable with said post at a plurality of longitu dinal points thereof for releasably anchoring said post to said track member.

" FLOYD so I F.

REFERENCES errizn,

The following references areof record in. the

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 716,274 Eierce Dec. 16,1962

24161890 Co11ord Jan, 19, 1937 

